Yes, he had a big nose. That was his physical signature piece off the ice, but on the ice he was a tough customer besides. After playing four years in the WHA he joined Minnesota of the NHL, the team that had acquired his rights from Detroit. He became instantly popular for his physical play, and the organist at the Met Centre played the theme music from 'Jaws" when he first appeared on the ice each night.

But on April 4, 1979 he Carlson suffered a serious back injury that required spinal fusion at the Mayo Clinic. He was out of the league for a year and a half, returning November 7, 1980. He played two years with the Blues from 1982-84, but his career was not quite done yet. Unhappy as an airfreight salesman and playing shinny twice a week in Minnesota, he came out of retirement in November 1986, some thirty months after having last played. Eight games later, he was done for good.

Jack missed his big acting break in 1974-75. While playing for Johnstown, the movie Slap Shot was being made. Jack's two brothers, Jeff and Steve, were stars of the flick, and Jack was supposed to be the third brother, all of whom were terrorizing the league with their hits and fights. But when he was recalled by the Minnesota Fighting Saints just prior to filming, his part had to be given to Dave Hanson.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1972-73

Minnesota Rangers

USHL

35

15

18

33

49

1973-74

Marquette Iron Rangers

USHL

42

42

29

71

159

1974-75

Minnesota Fighting Saints

WHA

32

5

5

10

85

10

1

2

3

41

1974-75

Johnstown Jets

NAPro

50

27

22

49

248

1975-76

Minnesota Fighting Saints

WHA

58

8

10

18

189

1975-76

Edmonton Oilers

WHA

10

1

1

2

31

4

0

0

0

4

1976-77

Minnesota Fighting Saints

WHA

36

4

3

7

55

1976-77

New England Whalers

WHA

35

7

5

12

81

5

1

1

2

9

1977-78

New England Whalers

WHA

67

9

20

29

192

9

1

1

2

14

1978-79

New England Whalers

WHA

34

2

7

9

61

1978-79

Minnesota North Stars

NHL

16

3

0

3

40

+2

1979-80

Minnesota North Stars

NHLMGNT

1980-81

Minnesota North Stars

NHL

43

7

2

9

108

-5

15

1

2

3

50

1981-82

Minnesota North Stars

NHL

57

8

4

12

103

-5

1

0

0

0

15

1982-83

St. Louis Blues

NHL

54

6

1

7

58

-3

4

0

0

0

5

1983-84

St. Louis Blues

NHL

58

6

8

14

95

+9

5

0

0

0

2

1984-85

1985-86

1986-87

Minnesota North Stars

NHL

8

0

0

0

13

0

NHL Totals

236

30

15

45

417

25

1

2

3

72

Brother of Steve

Selected by Minnesota (WHA) in 1974 WHA Amateur Draft, June, 1974. Signed as a free agent by Edmonton (WHA) after Minnesota (WHA) franchise folded, March 10, 1976. Claimed by Calgary (WHA) from Edmonton in 1976 WHA Intra-League Draft, June, 1976. Sold to Edmonton (WHA) by Minnesota (WHA) with Mike Antonovich, Bill Butters, Dave Keon, Jean-Louis Levasseur, Steve Carlson and John McKenzie fror cash, January, 1977. Traded to New England (WHA) by Edmonton (WHA) with Dave Keon, Steve Carlson, Dave Dryden and John McKenzie for future considerations (Dave Debol, June, 1977), Dan Arndt and cash, January, 1977. Rights traded to Minnesota by Detroit for future considerations, July 27, 1978. Traded to Minnesota by New England (WHA) for future considerations, February 1, 1979. Missed entire 1979-80 due to back surgery. Claimed by St. Louis from Minnesota in Waiver Draft, October 4, 1982. Signed as a free agent by Minnesota, November, 1986.